Sufism - class-VI

The 10th Century AD marks the important changes in the realm of ideas and belief in the Islamic religion-the rise of Sufi mystic orders.  The core concept of Sufi movement is Darikh-i-Duniya means "Universal Brotherhood". It outwardly rejected religion and casteism and emphasized love and devotion to God and compassion towards all human being.

Mohammad Nizam-ud-din Auliya is popularly called Hazarat Nizamuddin. He was one of the most famous Sufi Saints who adopted Yogic breathing exercises so much so that the yogis called him "Sidh" or "Perfect". His Dargah is located in Delhi. His famous disciple was "Amir Khusro".

The Chishti silsila was introduced in India by Khwajah Muin-ud-Din Chishti. He made Ajmer his headquarters until his death in AD 1236. Other saints and followers of Khwajah Muin-ud -Din were Bakhtiyar Kaki and his disciple Fariduddin Ganj-i-Shakar. 

The Chisti order in India was established by Khwaja Moin-ud-din-Chisti in 1192 shortly after the death of Prithviraj Chauhan. Khwaja Moin-ud-din-Chisti died in 1236. Mohammad Bin Tughlaq visited the tomb and later it came under State Management during Akbar's reign.

A. Islam

 Sufism is defined as the inner mystical dimension of Islam. Practitioners of Sufism, referred to as Sufis congregations formed around a grand master referred to as a mawla who traces a direct chain of teachers back to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. These orders meet for spiritual sessions in meeting places known as zawiyas.

Nizam-ud-din Auliya was one of the most famous Sufi Saints also known as Hazrat Nizam-ud-din. He adopted Yogic breathing exercises so much so that Yogis called him 'Perfect' or 'Sidh'. His Dargah is located in Delhi. It was constructed by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq.

Sufi mystics, through their emphasis on personal devotion and tolerance, were highly effective in spreading Islam in South and Southeast Asia, often integrating with existing local customs.

Abul Faizal is considered to be one of the most important Persian scholar and poet in the Medieval Indian History. He was a literary expert who even translated Sankskrit langauge works into Persian. He was appreciated by Akbar and even given the royal poet's position in his court. Thus, he was not a Sufi saint associated with mystical works. 

Pirs were the spiritual guides and philosophers of Sufism. Pir is generally a term used to highlight the respect for these Sufi saints. In Sufism, a Pir is the teacher to the student(s) who have decided to take the path of Sufi ideology. These Sufi saints played an important role in spreading the philosophy of Islam.  

Sants gave the message of equality to people. They taught humanity. They preached that people should live together in harmony, unity and love. Their work resulted in social awakening. They taught how to live in the face of foreign invasions.

Chisti order was the earliest Sufi order to arrive in India. It was introduced by the Moinuddin Chishti in Lahore (Punjab) and Ajmer in the middle of the 12th century CE. He was eighth in the line of succession from the founder of the Chishti Order

By the eleventh century Sufism evolved into a well developed
movement with a body of literature on
Quranic studies and sufi practices in India.

Amir Khusrao was a Sufi musician, poet, and scholar from South Asia.  He wrote poetry primarily in Urdu, but also in Hindi. He is also called the "father of Urdu literature". His contribution to the development of the ghazal was significant.

Sufis such as Baba Farid composed verses in the Punjabi language, which were incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib.

Amir Khusrau (1253-1325), the great poet, musician and disciple of Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya, gave a unique form to the Chishti sama‘ by introducing the qaul (Arabic word meaning “saying”), a hymn sung at the opening or closing of qawwali. He often called himself a 'Parrot of India.

Silsilah is a  golden chain of knowledges and religious orders that are inherited from the Prophet Muhammad. The focus of the silsila like the Chain of Authenticity is to trace the lineage of a sufi order to Mohammad through his Companions.

Amir Khusrau lived from 1253 to 1325. Iltutmish died in 1236, well before Khusrau was born, making him the only one on the list who was not a contemporary.

Sheikh Salim Chisti was a great saint of Chisti silsilah. Sheikh Salim Chisti's tomb was originally built with red sandstone but later it was converted into marble mausoleum by Akbar. Akbar constructed this mausoleum to pay his respect to Sheikh Salim Chisti because he blessed Akbar for being the father of a son. After that Jahangir was born and on his name he called him Salim.

The sitar was invented by Amir Khusrau, a famous Sufi inventor, poet, and pioneer of Khyal, Tarana and Qawwali, in the Delhi Sultanate.

Answer- (A) - Nizamuddin Aulia

Majnu Shah was a faqir (Sufi saint) of the Madariya Sufi order founded by Syed Badiuduin Qutb-ul Shah Madar. Majnu Shah actively participated in the Fakir-Sannyasi Rebellion, and joined in many battles against the British East India Company with his ‘pious team’. He was the founder leader of ‘Muslim Faqirs’.

Aspects of Bhakti movement that was common with Sufism:

Practitioners of Sufism have been referred to as "Sufis". And Sufism is the most important aspect or dimension of Islam which asks for total dedication to Allah most High, disregard for the world pleasure, wealth, and prestige sought by most men.

Firdausi order was the branch of Suharawardi order. Shaikh Badruddin Samarkandi was the founder of this order. This order was popular in Bihar. It was popularised by Shaikh Sharfuddin Yahya.

Suharawardi Order of Sufism was founded by Sheikh Bahuddin Zakariya. This order was famous in Punjab and Sindh. Other popular saints of this order were Shaikh Shihabuddin Suharwardi and Hamiduddin Nagory.

Ajmer Sharif Dargah located at Ajmer, Rajasthan is a shrine of a Sufi saint, Moinuddin Chishti who died in 1236. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the Indian sub-continent assembling there on the death anniversary of the saint.

The 10th century AD marks the important changes in the realm of ideas and belief in Islamic religion- the rise of Sufi mystic orders. The Sufis were organized in 12 orders or Silsilahs. A Silsilha was generally led by a prominent mystic who lived in a Khanqah or hospice along with disciples.